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Reviews
BBC Proms: Oklahoma! (2017)
Best Ever!!!
Now 0n YouTube and Lizzy Connolly's performance as Ado Annie is delightful.
Flyboys (2006)
Well done!
There aren't many films about the early pilots and the extreme dangers they faced. Kudos to all involved for pulling this off. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Beautiful score.
Midnight Special (2016)
A Young Boy With Special Powers
Midnight Special
The new film by Jeff Nichols is his best one to date. I caught it at the Silverspot today in Chapel Hill, having viewed it the first time at the Regal in Cary. Both theaters have enormous screens that are so effective in a science fiction thriller. With that said, I'll try not to say one word about the plot or the ending.
Midnight Special draws the viewer in even before the first scene appears. We hear an Amber Alert on the radio and that sets the stage for the next 90 minutes of intensity.
Roy, played by Michael Shannon in his fourth Nichols film, is on a mission. But is he an abductor or a rescuer? It's not clear at first, and the intricate plot keeps viewers guessing, just as Nichols would like. Roy looks throughout the film like he has the weight of the world on his shoulders. As one of the most expressive actors in films today, he can capture a feeling with just a sideways turn of the head or a furrowed brow. He is magnificent in this film.
Joel Egerton (who will also star in the next Nichols film due out next year), is perfect as Roy's accomplice, Lucas. The interplay between the two characters never abates during the film and much of their dialog consists of dramatic one-liners: "it's national," "he's dying," "he's more important." Such simple words, laden with meaning and foreboding.
A dark night, a lonely road, a gas station, a phone booth. Darkness lays over the movie like another character. It's eerie, haunting, and effective. One of my favorite night scenes shows a hill, over which the lights of a bus appear. Breathtaking and mysterious.
With Adam Stone's sensitive cinematography, simple things become powerful: an empty swing set, the soft glow of a lamp, an early morning sky. One of the most beautiful scenes in the film shows a child playing in the living room. It's as though the camera is eavesdropping while the shot is captured through the framework of the child's parents holding hands.
Kirstin Dunst plays Roy's wife and is believable sympathetic in the role of a mother. Her anguish at the film's end brought tears to the eyes of many in the audience and her performance has all the depth of a much older actress.
Adam Driver is appealing in his role as an FBI agent who easily inserts himself into the action and takes command in several scenes.
Sam Shepherd with his steady gaze and razor sharp eyes, is appropriately cast as the leader of a cult who can speak volumes with just a sideways glance.
The music by David Wingo is another strong character in the film. Whether foreshadowing or celebrating, the music is stunning, right up to the end song, Midnight Special, which is sung by Ben Nichols, Jeff's brother. I loved the gritty, lonesome quality of it.
Raising Bertie (2016)
A Noble Effort
The level of commitment and dedication shown by Margaret Byrne in filming this movie over a period of several years is impressive. The stars are three young men, Reginald, Devonte, and David, of rural Bertie County, North Carolina, and the film follows their struggles with school and life.
When The Hive, the alternative school they attend is threatened with closure, school director and mentor Vivian Saunders steps in to keep it open. (Shame on the school district for not supporting the alternative school.) Vivian's work is rewarded by the lives that are turned around as the result of her skill and devotion.
This is a powerful story of determination. However, technical flaws keep the film from being more than it could be. The viewer is distracted by shaky camera work and uncomfortable close ups. The film could benefit from more editing and a voice over. It was difficult to understand the dialog at times and to keep the characters straight. I understand the importance of verite but the uneven flow distracts from the story and is uncomfortable to watch at times (the fight scene, for example).
An epilogue would be helpful at the end to show where the young men are today. Also, captions shown as dates in the film would make it easier to follow the progression.
Reginald, Devonte, and David appeared at the premiere in Durham, NC on April 9, 2016 and answered questions by the audience, who warmly received the film. These young men are clearly getting their lives together, with Devonte planning to attend East Carolina University. (He might want to consider a major in theater, considering his empathy and strong stage presence). All three young men were poised and engaging during questions from the audience at the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival. An added treat was the presence of Vivian Saunders, who continues to run the Hive.
This doc could be truly great with more post production attention and editing. For example, the addition of a voice over would be helpful, along with a little information placing the film geographically in North Carolina (its distance from the coast for example, and proximity to Merchants Millpond in nearby Gates County, one of the most beautiful state parks in the system).
I hope the film will continue to be shown, as it illustrates the challenges faced by rural NC schools.